Air draft cotton cleaner



July 30, 1935 N. B. HENRY 009,928

AIR DRAFT COTTON CLEANER Filed Jan. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gru/vento@July 30, 1935.

N. B.- HENRY AIR DRAFT COTTON CLEANER Filed Jan. 29, 1952 2 SheetS-Sheet2 Patented July 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Am DRAFT' COTTONCLEANER `Nelson B.Henry, Columbus, Ga. I .Application January 29, 1932,serial No. 589,727

12 claims. (ci. 19-72) My invention relates to improvements in seedchamber discharging to `a commonV outlet, and cotton cleaners such asare used for removing there being a valve for controlling the flow ofdirt and foreign material therefrom; cotton, whereby it can be passedinto the clean- Inasmuch as the invention has particular refing chamberor deflected directlyfto the outlet 5 erence to a cleaner of the .airdraft "variety, of the inlet chamber while permitting the 5 wherein thecotton is drawn from a suitable air current to ,continue on into thecleaner source by an air conveyor into the cleaner where chamber alongwith thedirt and foreign matter. it is subjected to the action` of rollsworking over The invention also aims to provide inra cotscreens, it maybe well to discuss some of the distn cleaner, or the like, baille meansfor preadvantages of this type of cleaner, and vwhich Venting thesetting up of eddy currents and :as- '1.0 disadvantages the presentvinvention is desociated with deflector means, which is adapted signedtoovercome. In this connection, perto separate the Aincoming/cottonV fromthe air haps the outstanding'difliculty with'the cleaner current, anelement of the deflector means being of the prior art is vthat the .seedcotton is comarranged so as to provide a support for the baille vlpelled to pass into the cleaning .chamber and .to means when the same isin operative position. `15 be subjected to the action of the cleaner. orThe invention also resides in certain novel feapicker rollinstrumentalities. Where the cotton tures of construction, combinationandarrangeis green and damp or of exceptionally long staple ment ofparts and in modes of operatiom al1 of it is liable to be damaged byexcessive cleaning. which will be readily understood and appreciated It,therefore, is frequently necessary and advisby those skilled in the artupon reference to the "20 able to dispense with the mechanical cleaningaccompanying drawings in connection with the action of the rolls, and itis one of the important detailed description following.. Y a objects ofmy invention to provide a novel clean- It is to be understood that thedrawings illuser whereby the operator can, at will, direct' the tratewhat isregarded as a'preferred form of the cotton into the portion ofthe cleaner Where it invention. Obviously, however, the invention is 25will be subjected to the action of the cleaning susceptible of othermechanical expressions'withrolls, or merely effect a separation of thecotin the spirit and scope of the subject. matter ton from theair-current and loose dirt that claimed hereinafter. .Y would naturallybe carried by the air `current In the drawingswherein the same referenceupon separation of the cotton therefrom. In characters have been used todesignate the same 30 this way the operator is enabled to feed the'seedparts in all views, Y l f g i cotton to the gin, or storage bin, whetherthe Figure 1 is a lineal sectional .view through a mechanical cleaninginstrumentalities Yare emcleaner incorporating my invention; ployed ornot, at his option. The present in- Figure 2 is a sectional view takenon the line .35 vention, therefore, enables the ginner to employ 2 2 ofFigure 1, and, v

a single air conveyor or system with a single Figure 3 is a perspectiveView of a novel valve cleaner employed thereiny regardless of the na-.0r baille member incorporated in the invention. ture or condition ofthe cotton being drawn Referring specifically to the drawings, numeralthereinto. I 5 denotes the casing of thecleaner which 'may 40 Morespecifically, 1t-is an object ofthe inbe substantially of conventionalconstructionand 40 vention to provide a cotton cleaner, or the like,which, as shown, is provided with the inlet -Gfrom incorporating a valveor deflector which is opthe pneumatic conveyor whichsuppliesjthecoterable to separate the incoming cotton from the ton tothecasing 5. j air current so that the cotton will pass through Thecasing 5 isprovided with the usual Vseries the discharge outlet of thefeeder while permitof transverse cleaner rollsl 'I provided withteeth`i5 ting the airand dirt, with which it is laden, tov 8, bars or otherwell known cleaning means, and. pass out of the cleaner either throughthe operating above the vscreen III. The rolls 1 are screened bottomthereof below the cleaning rolls, journalled upon shafts 9 secured inbearings I0 or otherwise. and-driven in the usual fashion. y

The invention also contemplatesa cleaner hav- The casing 5 is` providedwith a substantially 50 ing what might be termed an inlet chamberconical dirt receptacle I2 forming the bottomof communicating directlywith an outletthere besuch casing, the receptacle I2 having the airouting combined with the inlet chamber, the usual let pipe I3 to whichmaybe connected the usual cleaning chamber having mechanical kcleaningsuction fan for supplying the cotton to the cleaninstrumentalitiestherein, the inlet and cleaning er from the bins or ,wagonsvia theconveyonpipe 55 6. This structure is more or less conventional and itwill be readily apparent that the cotton is drawn into the cleaner andthat the air and dirt will pass through screen I I with the heavierparticles of dirt dropping down onto the dirt ejector roll I4 at thebottom of the receptacle I2, While the lighter particles of dirt will bedrawn out through the pipe I3 through the fan (not shown) The dirtejector roll I4 is provided with ilexible vanes I5 which wipe againstthe opposed surfaces I2a at the outlet end of the dirt receptacle I2.These vanes I5 form a seal to prevent the access of outside air to thedirt chamber I2. The dirt ejector roll I4 is mounted on the shaft I6which may be driven by a belt or otherwise fromone of the other movingelements of the emanen-probablyone of the shafts 9 of the cleaner rolls1.

As usual the cotton fed into the cleaner 5 `is discharged against therear wall thereof to subsequently pass over the screen II by the actionof the rolls I until the kscreened cotton is discharged into the chamberI'I (Figure 1) to be ejected therefrom by the seed cotton ejector rollI9 mounted on the shaft 2D and having flexible vanes 2I operating on thearcuate surfaces of the discharge or outlet portions I8 of lthe casing.The seed cotton ejector roll therefore, as will be apparent, preventsthe entry of air into the chamber II and the main chamber of the cleaner5. Thus, the vacuum or pull in the elevator 6 will not be diminished asa result of either the dirt outlet of the dirt chamber I2 or the seedcotton outlet I8.

As has been stated earlier herein, considerable cotton will bereceived'which does not require cleaning or at least any substantialamount of cleaning. The usual cleaner, as already pointed out, makes noprovision for the elimination of mechanical cleaning of the cotton andtherefore all cotton must be subjected to the action of the rolls 1. Inorder to meet this situation, I have provided my cleaner with the noveldeflector 22, which is trapezoidal, or which may be trapezoidal, inshape, and which, as shown in Figure 1, is keyed to the shaft 24 bymeans of brackets or bearings 23, the shaft being suitably journalled inthe walls of the casing 5. One end of the shaft is preferably turnedlaterally, as indicated in Figure l, and is provided with a weight 25 atits end so that the shaft can be rocked to dispose the valve ordeflector 22 in either the full vor dotted line position (Figure 1).

In the full line position of the deflector or valve 22 it will be noted(Figure 2) that a space 28 is provided between the ends of the deflector22 and the adjacent walls of the casing 5so that'the air current withthe dirt or al substantial portion of it will pass around the deflectorand into the main chamber of the cleaner 5 to pass through the screen IIas usual. However, the incoming seed cotton, entering the casing 5 athigh velocity `and striking the defiector 22 (full line position,

Figure 1) will drop down on to the seed cotton ejector roll I9. Baflies21, 29 serve to prevent the setting up of eddy currents and effect aneven and of Figure 1.

In this connection it will be noted that the baille 21, which is carriedby the front wall of the casing 5 serves as a support for the deiiectorY 22 when in the dotted line position which, of

course, is the position the deflector assumes when the cotton is to besupplied to the main chamber of the cleaner and subjected to the actionof the rolls 'I. The weight serves to maintain the deflector 22 ineither the full or dotted line position, as will be apparent from aninspection of Figure 1.

When the deflector 22 is in the dotted line position its upwardlydisposed convex surface tends to assure upward deflection of the cottonin its passage to the rear of the cleaning chamber,- thus obviatinglikelihood of cotton dropping Ythrough the openings 28. The top of thecasing (see Figure 1) forms a stop for the deflector 22 when in the fullline position and sustains the l pressure of the air current.

' or feeding chamber I'I,-such baffle 29 preventing passage of theairvcurrent below the deflector 22 and over the rolls 'I as indicated inFigure 1.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pneumatically fed cotton cleaner comprising a casing having acotton inlet and outlet, and cleaning elements through which the aircurrent is discharged; the combination of a singleimperforate deflectorpositionable to deflect the incoming cotton from said air current to thecotton outlet without presentation to said cleaning elements and permitof the passage of air at its opposite sides, baffle means in said casingand Vcooperating with said rstmentioned cotton deflecting means when thesame is in operative position for providing an inlet chamber in directcommunication with said cotton inlet and outlet, said baffle meansincluding one barile member below the deflector'and spaced above thecleaning elements.

2. In a pneumatically fed cotton cleaner comprising a casing having acotton inlet and outlet and cleaning elements through which the aircurrent is discharged; the combination of imperforate deflector meanspositionable to defiect the incoming cotton from said air current to thecotton outlet without presentation to said cleaning elements,'and permitof the passage of 4viding an inlet chamber in direct communication withsaid cotton inlet and outlet.

3. A cottoncleaner or the like comprising a single casing providing acleaning section and a f receiving section, the former having an inletand an outlet communicating with the latter and the receiving sectionhaving an inlet and an outlet kfor the cotton, driven cleaning elementsin said cleaning section, a screen subjacent to said driven cleaningelements and over which the cotton is adapted to be actuated anddischarged -through said receiving section, a subjacent dirt chamberbeneath said screen and providing an air exhaust outlet and dirt ejectormeans independent of said exhaust outlet and having means forsubstantially preventing the entry of air into said dirt chamber throughthe dirt outlet opening shiftable deflector means in the path of saidcotton inlet and positionable to intercept and y extract the cotton'froman air current to cause the cotton to pass directly through thereceiving chamber outlet without presentation to said cleaning chamber,said deflecting means when in intercepting position presenting a concavesurface toward the incoming cotton and when in non-interceptingpresenting an upwardly inclined surface to the incoming cotton wherebyto deflect same away from said receiving section outlet; and toward thecleaning section inlet, said deilecting means being arranged to provideair current passages at its sides whereby the air blast may be exhaustedthrough said screen regardless of the position of said deflecting means,and ejecting means for discharging the cotton from said receivingchamber while preventing the entry of air thereinto.

4. A pneumatically fed cotton cleaner comprising a casing having acotton inlet and an outlet at one end and a separate outlet for the aircurrent and dirt, cotton cleaning means in said casing and terminatingshort of the inlet and outlet end wall thereof, a movable deflectormember in said casing adjacent said inlet and adapted in one position tosubstantially cut off incoming cotton from said outlet and in anotherposition to extract the cotton from the air current and deflect ittoward said outlet, and an eddy current-preventing baille between saiddeflector member and the cotton discharge end of said cleaning means,and forming a substantial continuation of said deilector when the latteris in operative position.

5. A pneumatically fed cotton cleaner comprising a casing having acotton inlet and an outlet at one end and a separate outlet for the aircurrent and dirt, cotton cleaning means in said casing and terminatingshort of the inlet and outlet end wall thereof, a movable deflectormember in said casing adjacent said inlet and adapted in one position tosubstantially cut off incoming cotton from said outletV and in anotherposition to extract the cotton from the air current and deflect ittoward said outlet, and an eddy current-preventing baille on the casingwall between said cotton inlet and outlet and providing a support forone end of said deilector in its first mentioned position.

6. A pneumatically fed cotton cleaner comprising a casing having acotton inlet and an outlet at one end and a separate outlet for the aircurrent and dirt, cotton cleaning mea-ns in said casing and terminatingshort of the inlet and outlet end wall thereof, a movable deilectormember in said casing adjacent said inlet and adapted in one position tosubstantially cut ofi incoming cotton from said outlet and in anotherpsition to extract the cotton from the air current and deflect it towardsaid outlet, and a pair of eddy current-preventing bailles between saidinlet and outlet, one of said bailles being spaced from said inlet walland disposed between said deilector and the discharge end of saidcleaning means and the otherbaille being carried by said wall andproviding a support'for said deector in its rst-mentioned position.

7. A cotton cleaner or the like comprising a casing providing distinctfeeding and cleaning sections, the feeding section having a cotton inletand a cotton outlet and there being an inlet to said cleaning section insubstantial alignment with said feeding section inlet, a deflectorselectively positionable in front of said cleaning section inlet, andalso in a position substantially parallel to said inlets, and saiddeflector member in said last named position having an inclined surfacedirected generally toward said cleaning section inlet and away from saidfeeding section outlet, and the length of said deilector member beingless than the width of said feeding section whereby to provide a dirtand air outlet 8. 'I'he combination set forth in claim 'l and inycluding a pair of eddy current preventing members, one carried adjacentand below said feeding section inlet, and the other adjacent and belowsaid cleaning section inlet, and above said cleaning section outlet, thefirst mentioned eddycurrent-preventing member providing a support forsaid baille in its second mentioned position, and the othereddy-current-preventing member providing a continuation of said baillemember when it is inthe first mentioned position whereby to guide theincoming cotton toward said feeding section outlet.

9. In an air draft cotton cleaner, cleaning means, means for deliveringcotton thereto in an air stream, and means operable to bypass cotton butnot air from the cleaning means, said bypass means including a baillefor sharply deflecting the air stream to cause its'contained cotton toseparate therefrom by its inertia, and end walls on the bailleperpendicular thereto.

10.In an air draft cotton cleaner, cleaning means, means for deliveringcotton thereto in an air stream, a baille for sharply deflecting the airstream to separate out its contained cotton by inertia of the cotton,said baille constituting a cotton bypass for the cleaning means, and endwalls on said baille.

11. In an air draft cotton cleaner, a casing, cleaning means therein, acombined cotton and air inlet to said casing, a baille havingperpendicular end walls and operable in said casing into spacedrelationship from said inlet to sharply divert the air stream issuingtherefrom whereby to cause the air carried cotton to separate therefromby its inertia, and means for bypassing the separated cotton withrespect to the cleaning means.

12. In an air draft cotton cleaner, a casing, means for deliveringcottonV thereto in an air stream, an air and cotton impactor in thecasing and movable into the air stream, said impactor having a bodysubstantially concave to the air stream when in operative position, andend walls on said body substantially perpendicular thereto.

NELSON B. HENRY.

